Chapter 6311 - 6320

Ying Wuji looked at Chen Ping, a slight smile playing on his lips.

“Chen Ping,” his voice was deep and languid, like a lion dozing in the afternoon sun, “I’ve long admired your name.”

Chen Ping walked to the platform, stopped, and looked up at Ying Wuji.

“Palace Master Ying, I’ve come to retrieve the Core of Reincarnation.” He went straight to

the point, without any pleasantries or formalities.

Ying Wuji’s smile froze; he hadn’t expected Chen Ping to be so direct.

The demon cultivators in the palace were also stunned.

They had seen countless people come to Shadow Abyss to see their Palace Master—some begging for mercy, some paying respects, some offering gifts, some seeking alliances—but none dared to speak like this.

To say directly, “I’ve come to retrieve the Core of Reincarnation,” as if it weren’t the treasure of the Demon Clan’s Shadow Palace, but merely a stone in his backyard.

Ying Wuji was silent for a moment, then smiled.

The smile was faint, almost imperceptible, but a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.

“The Core of Reincarnation is the treasure of my Demon Clan’s Shadow Palace. You think you can just take it as you please?”

Chen Ping looked at him, saying nothing.

Ying Wuji stood up and descended from the high platform.

His gait was elegant, as if he were strolling leisurely, yet each step contained terrifying power.

When he reached Chen Ping, Chen Ping felt the surrounding air freeze.

The pressure of a seventh-grade True Immortal pressed down like a mountain.

Chen Ping did not retreat.

His chaotic power circulated within his body, purple light flowing across his skin, dissolving the pressure into nothingness.

His expression was calm, his eyes clear, as if Ying Wuji’s pressure was merely a gentle breeze.

Ying Wuji’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Interesting,” he murmured.

He raised his hand, a ball of black light condensing in his palm.

That light was not demonic energy, but a more ancient and purer power—chaotic demonic energy.

Legend has it that the progenitor of the demon race cultivated this power; it could devour everything, corrode everything, and destroy everything.

“Let me see just how capable you are,”

Ying Wuji said, striking out with his palm.

The strike was slow, so slow that Chen Ping could see every line on his palm.

But the power contained in that palm strike was enough to level a mountain.

Chen Ping didn’t dodge.

He raised his right hand and met the attack head-on.

Purple chaotic power collided with black chaotic demonic energy.

There was no explosion, no loud noise, only a low hum.

The two forces intertwined, devoured, and merged between their palms.

Purple light and black light intertwined, like two giant dragons fighting. The surrounding space began to distort, and the air emitted a piercing shriek.

The demon cultivators in the palace changed their expressions drastically and retreated one after another.

A full-force attack from a seventh-grade True Immortal was enough to level this palace.

But Chen Ping actually blocked it. With his peak eighth-grade Upper Immortal cultivation, he actually blocked a full-force attack from a seventh-grade True Immortal.

Ying Wuji’s eyes lit up.

“Good!” he shouted and withdrew his palm.

Chen Ping also withdrew his palm, his expression still calm.

But his right hand was trembling slightly. Ying Wuji’s power was indeed very strong. If it weren’t for the chaotic power restraining all other powers, he might not have been able to withstand this palm strike.

Ying Wuji looked at him, silent for a long time.

Then, he smiled.

This time, the smile was no longer amusement, but genuine admiration.

“Chen Ping, you are stronger than the rumors say.” He turned and walked back to the platform, sitting down on the throne again. “The Core of Reincarnation, I can give it to you.”

Chen Ping didn’t speak, waiting for him to continue.

Ying Wuji leaned back on the throne, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, making a rhythmic sound.

“However, I have one condition.”

Chen Ping looked at him: “Speak.”

Ying Wuji’s fingers stopped.

He looked at Chen Ping, a very subtle glint in his eyes.

“I want you to help me kill someone.”

Chen Ping’s brows furrowed slightly: “Who?”

At this moment, Chen Ping seemed to have the answer in his heart.

Ying Wuji didn’t answer immediately.

He stood up, walked to the edge of the platform, turned his back to Chen Ping, and looked at the inverted starry sky above.

“A cultivator at the sixth rank of the True Immortal Realm.”

His voice was soft. “He is my enemy. Five thousand years ago, he killed my wife. For five thousand years, I have been looking for an opportunity to take revenge. Although our cultivation levels are higher than his, he has the Divine Clan’s Judgment Hall behind him.”

He turned to look at Chen Ping.

“But you are different. Your Chaos Power restrains all power, including his. Killing him is as easy as turning your hand.”

Chen Ping was silent for a moment. “You mean Lei Zhentian?”

Ying Wuji was stunned. He didn’t expect Chen Ping to know Lei Zhentian.

“That’s right, he is the current Vice Hall Master of the Divine Clan’s Judgment Hall—Lei Zhentian.” Ying Wuji nodded!

Chen Ping’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Vice Hall Master of the Divine Clan’s Judgment Hall, seventh rank of the True Immortal Realm.

The number one person below the Judgment Venerable, he cultivates lightning-based techniques and has extremely powerful combat strength. He is infamous in the Fifteenth Heaven.

“Kill him, and the Core of Reincarnation will be yours.” Ying Wuji said. “Not only that, the Shadow Hall will be allied with you from now on. Your affairs are my affairs.”

Chen Ping remained silent for a long time.

He didn’t want to be someone else’s weapon.

But he needed the Core of Reincarnation.

The Ghost Clan’s hope lay in these three treasures.

“Alright,” Chen Ping nodded. “I agree.”

Ying Wuji smiled.

He took out a black token from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Ping.

“This is Lei Zhentian’s whereabouts. He goes to Thunder Mountain to cultivate thunder magic every month on the fifteenth. Today is the thirteenth, and the fifteenth will be in two days. You can wait for him at Thunder Mountain.”

Chen Ping took the token and glanced at it.

“After I kill him, how will I find you?”

“Don’t bother looking for me,” Ying Wuji said. “You killed Lei Zhentian, and the news will naturally reach my ears. Then, I will personally deliver the Core of Reincarnation to you.”

Chen Ping nodded and turned to leave.

“Wait a minute,” Ying Wuji called after him.

Chen Ping stopped.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll go back on my word?” Ying Wuji asked.

Chen Ping didn’t turn around. “You can try.”

Then he left.

Jiang Xuelan followed behind him.

Ying Wuji stood on the high platform, watching their figures disappear into the tunnel, remaining silent for a long time.

“Interesting,” he murmured. “Truly interesting.”
After leaving Yingyuan

, Chen Ping and Jiang Xuelan didn’t return to Youyue Kingdom, but instead flew directly towards Tianlei Mountain.

Tianlei Mountain is located southeast of the Youming Mountain Range, about a day’s journey from Yingyuan.

Chen Ping calculated the time; today was the thirteenth, and Lei Zhentian wouldn’t go to Tianlei Mountain until the fifteenth.

They had two days to make preparations in advance.

“How do you plan to kill him?” Jiang Xuelan asked.

Chen Ping thought for a moment: “Ying Wuji said that Lei Zhentian cultivates lightning-based techniques and goes to Tianlei Mountain every fifteenth of the month to absorb the power of heavenly lightning.”

“You plan to use lightning techniques against him?” Jiang Xuelan was taken aback.

Chen Ping nodded.

Jiang Xuelan glanced at him, somewhat surprised: “You know lightning techniques?”

“A little.”

Chen Ping smiled, “Back in the Celestial Realm, I ate the Heavenly Thunder Fruit, so I have the essence of lightning within me. I also know a set of Thunderclap Palms, but I haven’t used it in a long time.”

Jiang Xuelan was silent for a moment, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned.

“Just how many things do you know?”

Chen Ping smiled but didn’t speak.

The two quickened their pace, flying towards Thunder Mountain.

Thunder Mountain was a solitary peak, towering into the clouds, perpetually shrouded in lightning.

Legend has it that in ancient times, a powerful figure of the lightning element perished here.

His remaining lightning power lingered on the mountain for tens of thousands of years, never dissipating.

Above the summit, dark clouds clung, and purple lightning, like countless giant dragons, danced wildly within the clouds, striking down every moment, scorching and shattering the rocks.

Ordinary cultivators could feel the terrifying pressure of the lightning even from a hundred miles away, let alone approach it.

Cultivators below the True Immortal Realm, struck by a single bolt of heavenly lightning, would suffer severe injuries at best, and complete annihilation at worst.

Chen Ping and Jiang Xuelan landed on a small hill a hundred miles away from Thunder Mountain.

“Wait for me here,” Chen Ping said.

Jiang Xuelan frowned: “You’re going up alone?”

“The lightning on Thunder Mountain will harm you,” Chen Ping said, looking at her. “Your Ice God Power doesn’t counter lightning; going up would be dangerous. I can go alone.”

Jiang Xuelan was silent for a moment, then nodded.

“Be careful.”

Chen Ping smiled, turned, and flew towards Thunder Mountain.

The closer they got to Thunder Mountain, the denser the lightning became.

Purple lightning bolts cleaved down from the clouds, tearing the air

apart with deafening roars. Chen Ping’s chaotic power flowed around his body, the purple light shielding

him from the lightning. Those lightning bolts, powerful enough to reduce True Immortal Realm cultivators to ashes, couldn’t even touch the hem of his clothes.

He landed halfway up Thunder Mountain, found a secluded cave, and sat cross-legged.

There were still two days until the fifteenth.

He wanted to use these two days to thoroughly review the Thunder Palm technique and reactivate the lightning source within his body.

He closed his eyes and immersed his consciousness into his body.

Within his dantian, a vortex of chaotic power slowly rotated.

At the edge of the vortex, a purple light shone, and then Chen Ping’s divine sense entered a cosmic galaxy.

Some stars there were dim, some bright; these were all Chen Ping’s primordial stars.

Among them, one star shimmered with light—that was Chen Ping’s lightning primordial star, dormant for a long time, unused by Chen Ping!

Chen Ping probed a wisp of his divine sense into the lightning primordial star.

In that instant, he felt as if he were in an ocean of lightning.

Countless purple lightning bolts danced wildly around him, each containing the power to destroy everything.

But he felt no fear; instead, he felt a sense of familiarity. The lightning primordial star and the chaotic power within his body shared the same origin, both yearning to merge.

He began to guide the lightning primordial star, drawing it from his dantian and circulating it along his meridians.

Wherever the lightning primordial star passed, fine purple patterns appeared on the meridian walls, as if branded by lightning.

The patterns within the lightning contained the power of thunder, making his meridians more resilient and expansive.

Once, twice, three times…

the essence of thunder circulated within him eighty-one times, finally achieving a balance with the chaotic power within him.

He opened his eyes, raised his right hand, and a ball of purple lightning condensed in his palm.

This lightning was no longer ordinary heavenly thunder, but chaotic thunder fused with the power of chaos.

Its color was deeper than ordinary heavenly thunder, almost black, with purple light flowing across its surface, crackling loudly.

Chen Ping clenched his fist, drawing the lightning back into his body.

Indeed, the power of chaos encompassed all laws; it could merge and contain all power.

Then, he began to recall the Thunderclap Palm technique. He had learned

the Thunderclap Palm from an ancient book in the library of the Imperial City of Yihe when he was still in the Celestial Realm.

At that time, his cultivation was still weak, and the Thunderclap Palm was his strongest killing move.

Now, his strength was vastly different, and the power of the Thunderclap Palm had increased along with his cultivation.

He stood up and walked out of the cave.

Thunder roared across Thunder Mountain .

Chen Ping stood atop the mountain, facing the raging lightning, and began practicing the Thunderclap Palm.

First move, Thunderous Might.

He struck out with his palm, and lightning surged from his palm, transforming into a thick, purple pillar of lightning that shot towards the sky.

The pillar of lightning collided with the lightning in the sky, unleashing a deafening roar that shook the entire Thunder Mountain.

Second move, Thunder Shakes the

Nine Heavens. He struck out with both palms simultaneously, and lightning power condensed into countless lightning spears before him, shooting out in all directions.

Wherever the lightning spears passed, the air was torn apart, rocks were shattered, and the lightning in the sky was scattered.

Third move, Heavenly Thunder Annihilates the World.

He clasped his hands together, gathering all the lightning essence and chaotic power within his body into his palms.

Then, he slowly separated his hands, and a purple sphere of light appeared between his palms. Lightning flickered within the sphere, containing power sufficient to destroy a city.

He pushed the sphere of light into the sky.

The ball of light flew into the clouds and exploded with a bang.

The lightning across the entire sky was swallowed by it, transforming into a massive purple vortex that spun for several breaths before gradually dissipating.

Chen Ping withdrew his hand and exhaled a long breath.

Not a drop of sweat was on his body, but the lightning essence within him had been completely activated.

He could feel that his control over lightning had reached a completely new level.

“Almost there,” he murmured.

Then, he returned to the cave and continued to wait.

On Thunder Mountain, the lightning was more concentrated than usual.

Every month on the fifteenth, the power of thunder on Thunder Mountain would reach its peak, the best time to cultivate thunder techniques.

Lei Zhentian would come to Thunder Mountain every month on this day to absorb the power of thunder and refine his thunder techniques.

Chen Ping stood atop the mountain, looking at the distant sky.

He was waiting.

After about an hour, a dozen golden points of light appeared in the distance.

The points of light grew closer and larger, transforming into a dozen divine cultivators dressed in golden robes.

Their cultivation levels were all between the second and fourth ranks of the True Immortal Realm, with tokens of the Judgment Hall hanging at their waists, exuding a menacing aura.

At the very front stood a tall, middle-aged man, broad-shouldered and burly, with a resolute face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes.

His short hair stood on end like steel needles. Golden lightning crackled around him, and the air was filled with the smell of burning.

His cultivation level was True Immortal Realm, Rank Seven.

Lei Zhentian.
A seventh-grade True Immortal, a minor realm higher than the sixth-grade True Immortal that Ying Wuji had told him.

That old fox Ying Wuji really didn’t tell the truth.

Or perhaps Lei Zhentian’s strength had increased.

But regardless, now that he was here, Chen Ping wouldn’t back down!

Chen Ping’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He stood atop the mountain, watching Lei Zhentian land on Thunder Mountain with a dozen or so Divine Race cultivators.

Lei Zhentian was very cautious. He came to Thunder Mountain every fifteenth of the month, but each time he would bring a dozen or so subordinates to search the area within a hundred miles of Thunder Mountain to confirm there were no ambushes before beginning his cultivation. This

had remained unchanged for five thousand years.

“Scatter, search!”

“Yes!”

The dozen or so Divine Race cultivators scattered, searching Thunder Mountain.

Soon, a Divine Race cultivator spotted Chen Ping.

“My lord! There’s someone here!”

Lei Zhentian frowned and strode over.

He saw a young man in a blue robe standing atop the mountain, his face calm, his eyes clear, his cultivation only at the peak of the eighth grade of the Upper Immortal Realm.

A sword hung at his waist, its blade cracked, making him appear like an ordinary rogue cultivator.

Lei Zhentian’s vigilance relaxed slightly.

A rogue cultivator at the peak of the eighth rank of the Upper Immortal Realm was less than an ant to him.

“Who are you? How dare you trespass on Thunder Mountain?” His voice boomed like thunder, shaking the very rocks.

Chen Ping turned to face him.

“Chen Ping.”

Lei Zhentian’s eyes narrowed.

He had heard of this name.

A punch that severely injured Jin Huan in the Heavenly Fire Pit, a palm strike that sent the Divine Clan’s deputy flying, a single sentence that terrified all the Divine Clan cultivators into a chaotic retreat—this name had been the talk of the entire Fifteenth Heaven for the past two days.

But he hadn’t expected Chen Ping to be merely a rogue cultivator at the peak of the eighth rank of the Upper Immortal Realm.

“Chen Ping.” Lei Zhentian’s voice was low. “I have no grudge against you, why are you blocking my way?”

Chen Ping looked at him, his voice calm.

“Killing you is a deal.”

Lei Zhentian’s expression changed.

“A deal? Who sent you? Ying Wuji?”

Chen Ping neither answered nor denied.

A flash of killing intent crossed Lei Zhentian’s eyes.

“That piece of trash Ying Wuji doesn’t dare come himself, so he sends a junior at the Upper Immortal Realm to his death?” He sneered. “You think you can kill me?”

He raised his right hand, and a ball of golden lightning condensed in his palm.

The lightning was extremely hot, and its light was dazzling, illuminating the entire Thunder Mountain.

The surrounding air began to distort, and the rocks shattered under the pressure of the lightning.

“Since you’re here, don’t leave.”

Lei Zhentian struck out with his palm.

The golden lightning transformed into a thunder dragon, roaring as it charged towards Chen Ping.

The thunder dragon was tens of feet long, entirely golden, tearing apart the air and shattering rocks wherever it passed, even devouring the heavenly lightning on Thunder Mountain.

Chen Ping did not dodge.

He raised his right hand and met the attack with a palm strike.

Purple lightning surged from his palm, transforming into a purple thunder dragon, which collided with the golden thunder dragon.

Boom!

The two forces of lightning collided, unleashing a deafening roar.

The entire Thunder Mountain trembled, rocks tumbled, and dust billowed.

The shockwave tore a huge hole in the dark clouds in the sky, allowing sunlight to stream through and illuminate the mountaintop.

Lei Zhentian’s pupils suddenly contracted.

“You also know thunder magic?”

Chen Ping didn’t speak.

He withdrew his palm, and the thunder source within his body erupted completely.

Purple lightning coiled around him, like countless purple snakes, crackling loudly.

His eyes turned purple, and lightning seemed to flicker in his pupils.

Lei Zhentian’s expression became solemn.

He could sense that this young man, at the peak of the eighth rank of the Upper Immortal Realm, possessed thunder power far stronger than he had imagined.

It wasn’t ordinary thunder magic, but chaotic thunder fused with some higher-level power.

“Interesting,” Lei Zhentian murmured, “Five thousand years, finally met someone who can fight.”

He raised his hands, and golden lightning condensed in his palms, transforming into two thunder spears.

The spears crackled with electricity, emitting a piercing buzzing sound.

“Then let me see just how capable you really are.”

Lei Zhentian moved.

His speed was extreme, leaving a long afterimage in his wake.

He instantly appeared in front of Chen Ping, his right hand wielding a lightning spear aimed at Chen Ping’s chest.

Chen Ping did not retreat.

He dodged the spear and struck Lei Zhentian’s shoulder with a palm.

Thunderous Palm, with the force of a thousand thunderbolts.

Purple lightning erupted from his palm, slamming towards Lei Zhentian’s shoulder.

Lei Zhentian held his left-hand lightning spear horizontally in front of him, blocking the strike.

Boom!

The two forces of lightning collided again, and both were simultaneously forced back.

Lei Zhentian retreated five steps, while Chen Ping retreated seven.

A seventh-grade True Immortal against a peak eighth-grade Immortal, in a head-on clash, Chen Ping was slightly inferior.

However, his Chaotic Lightning countered all lightning forces, and a portion of Lei Zhentian’s golden lightning was absorbed during the collision, so the actual difference wasn’t as great as it appeared.

Lei Zhentian’s expression grew even more solemn.

“Your lightning magic… can devour my lightning?”

Chen Ping didn’t answer.

He took a deep breath, simultaneously circulating the lightning essence and chaotic power within his body. Purple light and black chaotic power intertwined, forming a layer of purplish-black armor on his body.

He took the initiative to attack.

Thunderclap Palm, thunder shaking the nine heavens.

He struck out with his palm, the power of lightning transforming into countless lightning spears, shooting towards Lei Zhentian.

Each lightning spear contained the power of chaotic lightning, enough to penetrate the protective spiritual power of a True Immortal Realm expert.

Lei Zhentian snorted coldly, his palms striking out simultaneously, golden lightning condensing into a lightning shield before him.

The shield had five layers, each containing terrifying lightning power.

The lightning spears struck the shield.

The first layer shattered.

The second layer shattered.

The third, fourth, and fifth layers

of lightning spears pierced through all five layers of the shield, but their power was also exhausted, dissipating before Lei Zhentian.

Lei Zhentian’s expression changed.

His lightning shield was enough to withstand a full-force attack from an eighth-grade True Immortal Realm expert.

But against this young man at the peak of the eighth grade Upper Immortal Realm, it only lasted for less than three breaths.

“Who exactly are you?”

Chen Ping still did not answer.

He clasped his hands together, condensing all the lightning essence and chaotic power within his body into his palms.

Thunderclap Palm, Heavenly Thunder Annihilation.

He slowly separated his hands, and a ball of purplish-black light appeared between his palms.

Lightning crackled within the sphere of light, containing enough power to destroy a city.

The surrounding air began to distort, and the heavenly lightning from Thunder Mountain was drawn to the sphere, surging towards it and merging into it.

The sphere grew larger and brighter.

Lei Zhentian’s face turned deathly pale.

He felt it; the power contained within the sphere was enough to obliterate him. “No!” he roared, channeling all his inner lightning power.

Golden lightning erupted from his body, coalescing into a hundred-zhang-long golden lightning dragon before him.

The dragon roared and charged towards Chen Ping.

Chen Ping pushed out the ball of light in his hand.

The ball of light collided with the golden lightning dragon.

There was no explosion, no loud noise.

The ball of light, like a black hole, devoured, absorbed, and transformed the golden lightning dragon bit by bit.

The lightning dragon struggled before the ball of light for less than three breaths before being completely swallowed up.

Then, the ball of light continued forward, crashing into Lei Zhentian’s chest.

“Ah!”

Lei Zhentian let out a shrill scream.

Dark purple lightning raged within him, destroying his meridians, bones, and flesh inch by inch.

His protective spiritual power was like paper before the chaotic lightning, instantly torn to shreds. His body began to crumble, cracks spreading from his chest to his limbs.

“No…impossible…” His eyes widened in disbelief, even in death. “Immortal Realm…Eighth Grade…how is this possible…”

Chen Ping stood before him, looking into his eyes, his voice calm.

“I told you, killing you was a deal.”

Lei Zhentian’s body shattered with a deafening roar, transforming into countless golden specks of light that dissipated into the air.

His body and soul were annihilated.

Thunder Mountain fell silent.

The lightning still roared, but seemed much weaker than before.

Perhaps it was because Lei Zhentian was dead, or perhaps it was because Chen Ping’s Chaos Lightning was too terrifying, causing even the heavens and earth to tremble.

Chen Ping withdrew his hand and exhaled a long breath.

His face was somewhat pale, and most of the lightning essence and chaotic power within his body had been consumed.

His right hand trembled slightly, the tiger’s mouth split open, and blood dripped from his fingertips.

His chest had also been struck by Lei Zhentian’s lightning, leaving a charred wound that throbbed faintly.

He was injured.

A full-force attack from a Seventh Grade True Immortal Realm cultivator was not so easy to withstand.

If it weren’t for the Chaos Lightning’s ability to counteract all lightning power, he might already be dead.

He turned around and looked at the divine cultivators.

A dozen or so divine cultivators stood rooted to the spot, staring at him in disbelief.

Their Vice Hall Master, Lei Zhentian, a seventh-grade True Immortal, had been killed in a single move by a human cultivator at the peak of the eighth-grade Upper Immortal.

“Avenge…avenge our Vice Hall Master!”

A fourth-grade True Immortal divine cultivator was the first to react, roaring as he charged towards Chen Ping.

The others also joined in, golden holy light transforming into countless attacks, blasting towards Chen Ping.

Chen Ping wanted to fight back, but his body was no longer under his control.

His lightning essence and chaotic power were almost exhausted; he could barely stand.

Just then, an icy blue light descended from the sky.

Jiang Xuelan.

She had been watching the battle on Thunder Mountain from a hundred miles away.

Seeing Chen Ping injured and the divine cultivators about to attack him, she immediately intervened.

She landed in front of Chen Ping, her hands forming a seal. Ice-blue divine light surged from her body, transforming into a massive ice wall that blocked all the attacks from the divine cultivators.

Then, she raised her right hand and struck out with her palm.

“Thousand Miles of Ice Seal!”

The ice-blue divine light surged forth like a tide, freezing the air, the rocks, and even the lightning in the sky.

Before the divine cultivators could react, they were frozen within the blue ice crystals, turning into ice sculptures.

More than a dozen people were completely frozen.

Jiang Xuelan withdrew her hand, turned, and helped Chen Ping.

“Let’s go, these people won’t be frozen for long…”

She carried Chen Ping, transforming into an ice-blue streak of light, and disappeared into the horizon.

Behind them, on Thunder Mountain, thunder roared, and ice crystals reflected blinding light in the sunlight.

More than a dozen ice sculptures stood atop the mountain, like tombstones.

Jiang Xuelan flew with Chen Ping for about an hour, landing in a secluded valley.

The valley wasn’t large, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with only a narrow entrance.

A stream flowed through the valley, its water crystal clear, and beside it lay a meadow covered in unidentified wildflowers.

Jiang Xuelan laid Chen Ping on the meadow and examined his injuries.

There was a charred wound on his chest, inflicted by Lei Zhentian’s lightning.

The wound wasn’t deep, but golden lightning energy lingered, eroding his flesh.

“Don’t move,” Jiang Xuelan said.

She raised her right hand, a ball of icy blue light coalescing in her palm, and gently pressed it against Chen Ping’s chest.

The icy blue light gradually froze and dissipated the golden lightning energy.

Chen Ping felt the burning pain in his chest gradually disappear, replaced by a cool sensation.

“Thank you,” Chen Ping said.

Jiang Xuelan didn’t speak.

She withdrew her hand, took a pill from her sleeve, and handed it to him.

“Eat it,”

Chen Ping said, taking the pill and putting it in his mouth.

The pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth, a warm power flowing into his body, nourishing his damaged meridians and flesh.

“Your injuries aren’t serious; you’ll recover in a day or two,” Jiang Xuelan said. “But you took too much risk. A seventh-grade True Immortal, and you dared to fight him head-on.”

Chen Ping smiled: “It wasn’t a head-on fight. My Chaos Lightning restrains his lightning power, otherwise I wouldn’t have dared to fight.”

Jiang Xuelan looked at him, silent for a moment.

“Next time, don’t carry the burden alone.”

Chen Ping hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Okay.”

The two sat on the grass, watching the clouds in the sky.

The setting sun dyed the entire sky golden-red.

The stream shimmered in the sunset, like flowing gold.“Ying Wuji lied to you,” Jiang Xuelan suddenly said. “He said Lei Zhentian was a sixth-grade True Immortal, but he was actually a seventh-grade.”

“I know,” Chen Ping nodded. “That old fox never had good intentions from the start. He wanted me to kill Lei Zhentian not just for revenge, but also to test my strength.”

“Then why did you agree?”

“Because I need the Core of Reincarnation,” Chen Ping said. “No matter what he’s planning, as long as I kill Lei Zhentian, he has no reason to back out. If he does back out…” Chen Ping smiled, “I don’t mind killing one more.”

Jiang Xuelan didn’t speak, just looked at him.

This man, sometimes, is truly terrifying.

He usually seems gentle, loyal to his friends, and compassionate towards the weak.

But once he’s determined to do something, he becomes ruthless, decisive, and unscrupulous.

Perhaps that’s why he’s gotten this far.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you back to Youyue Kingdom first. Once you’ve recovered, we’ll go get the Soul-Guiding Flame,” Jiang Xuelan said.

Chen Ping nodded and followed Jiang Xuelan back to Youyue Kingdom!

The news of Chen Ping killing Lei Zhentian spread throughout the entire Fifteenth Heaven that very day.

Everyone was shocked.

Lei Zhentian, the deputy hall master of the Divine Clan’s Judgment Hall, a seventh-grade True Immortal, had reigned supreme in the Fifteenth Heaven for five thousand years, and no one had ever dared to challenge him.

Now, he was dead.

Killed in one move by a human cultivator at the peak of the eighth-grade Upper Immortal.

In the Loose Cultivator Alliance, Feng Qingzi was drinking tea when he received the news.

His teacup fell to the ground and shattered.

“What did you say? Chen Ping killed Lei Zhentian?”

“Absolutely true. More than a dozen people witnessed it on Thunder Mountain.”

Feng Qingzi remained silent for a long time, then sighed deeply.

“This person is not to be trifled with.”

In the Beast Clan’s Heavenly Wolf Tribe, Langya was training his subordinates when he received the news.

He put down his battle axe, remained silent for a moment, then smiled.

“Well done, Chen Ping. I’ve had my eye on that old bastard Lei Zhentian for a long time. Good riddance!”

In the Shadow Palace of the Demon Clan, Ying Wuji was sitting on his throne, eyes closed, resting when he received the news.

He opened his eyes, a complex light flashing within them.

“Lei Zhentian… is dead?”

“Dead. Killed by Chen Ping in one move.”

Ying Wuji remained silent for a long time, then smiled.

His smile contained pleasure, admiration, and a hint of apprehension.

“Well done, Chen Ping,” he murmured, “Even stronger than I imagined.”

He stood up and walked into the deepest part of the Shadow Abyss.

There was a secret chamber there, housing the supreme treasure of the Shadow Palace of the Demon Clan, the Core of Reincarnation.

It was a fist-sized bead, entirely black, with silver patterns flowing across its surface, like winding rivers.

The bead contained the power of reincarnation, the key to opening the path of reincarnation.

Ying Wuji took the Core of Reincarnation from the secret chamber and held it in his palm.

“Chen Ping, I hope we won’t become enemies in the future,”

he murmured, then walked out of the secret chamber.

The next day, Ying Wuji personally delivered the Core of Reincarnation to the Youyue Kingdom.

He stood at the city gate, looking at the dilapidated underground ancient city, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

The Ghost Clan, this once glorious race, now only has so few people left.

Chen Ping walked out of the ancient city and took the Core of Reincarnation.

His face was still a little pale, but his injuries had mostly healed.

“Thank you.”

Ying Wuji shook his head: “No need to thank me. This is what you deserve.”

He paused, then said, “Lei Zhentian is dead, but the Divine Clan’s Judgment Hall will not let this go. The Judgment Venerable is vengeful. You must be careful.”

Chen Ping nodded: “I know.”

Ying Wuji turned to leave, then stopped.

“Chen Ping, if you need help in the future, you can come to Yingyuan to find me. The gates of the Shadow Hall are always open for you.”

Then he left.

Chen Ping stood at the city gate, watching his back disappear into the black mist, and remained silent for a long time.

“What does he mean?” Jiang Xuelan walked to his side.

“To win me over,” Chen Ping said. “He saw my strength and wants to pull me to his side.”

“Will you go?”

Chen Ping shook his head: “No. I’m not anyone’s weapon.”

He turned and walked back to the ancient city.

Behind him, Yun Quan and Yun Xi stood at the entrance of the council hall, looking at the Core of Reincarnation in his hand, their eyes filled with tears of excitement.

One more.

Two more.

The Soul-Guiding Flame, in the Beast Clan’s Sky Wolf Tribe.

The Netherworld Lamp, in the God Clan’s Judgment Hall.

Chen Ping looked up at the black mist and moonlight above.

“Tomorrow, go to the Sky Wolf Tribe.”

Jiang Xuelan nodded.

Yun Xi opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end only said, “Be careful.”

Chen Ping smiled, turned and walked into the stone hall.

Xiao You ran out of the stone hall and jumped into his arms.

“Uncle Chen! You’re back! Did you bring me anything delicious?”

Chen Ping took out a Heavenly Fire Crystal from his storage ring. It was about the size of a fist, polished by his Chaos Fire, its surface smooth as a mirror, radiating a warm glow.

“Here, take this. Play with it.”

Xiao You took the crystal, her eyes shining like stars.

“So beautiful! Thank you, Uncle Chen!”

Chen Ping patted her head and carried her into the stone hall.

Behind them, moonlight shone on the ruins of the ancient city, turning everything silvery-gray.
The Hall of Judgment of the Divine Race, main hall.

The Judgment Venerable sat on his high golden throne, his face as grim as the sky before a storm.

He released no pressure, yet the air in the entire hall seemed to solidify, making even breathing difficult.

In the center of the hall knelt a dozen or so Divine Race cultivators.

Their clothes were tattered, their bodies covered in wounds; they were the ones who had escaped from Thunder Mountain.

Jiang Xuelan’s Thousand-Mile Ice Seal had only trapped them for less than an hour before the ice crystals shattered.

But Chen Ping and Jiang Xuelan had already left, and they could only slink back to the Hall of Judgment.

“Lei Zhentian…is dead?” The Judgment Venerable’s voice was calm, a calmness that sent chills down one’s spine.

The True Immortal Realm fourth-grade cultivator kneeling at the front trembled, his forehead pressed to the ground, afraid to raise his head.

“Yes…yes, Hall Master. Killed in one move by that Chen Ping…”

The hall was deathly silent.

Lei Zhentian, a seventh-grade True Immortal, the Vice Hall Master of the Judgment Hall, had reigned supreme in the Fifteenth Heaven for five thousand years, with no one daring to challenge him.

Now, he was dead. Killed in a single move by a human cultivator at the peak of the eighth grade Upper Immortal.

The Judgment Venerable remained silent for a long time.

Then, he smiled.

The smile was faint, almost imperceptible, but everyone felt a chill, a chill that shot from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads .

“Well done, Chen Ping.” His voice remained calm. “Well done, Ying Wuji.”

He stood up and stepped down from his throne. His golden robe trailed on the ground, making a rustling sound.

He walked to the dozen or so cultivators and looked down at them.

“You saw him kill, but didn’t intervene?”

“Hall Master, we intervened! But Chen Ping’s accomplice, a woman in white, froze us all with ice-type techniques, we…”

Before he could finish speaking, the Judgment Venerable raised his hand and gently waved it.

The cultivator’s body was crushed as if by an invisible giant hand, instantly turning into a cloud of blood mist.

Blood mist filled the air, settling on the cultivators beside him and staining them red.

No one dared to move, no one dared to utter a sound.

“Lei Zhentian is dead, and you are still alive.”

The Judgment Venerable’s voice remained calm. “This is your honor. But I don’t like seeing trash.”

He turned and walked back to his throne.

“Issue the order. From today onwards, any force in the Fifteen Heavens that dares to cooperate with Chen Ping is an enemy of my Judgment Hall. Kill without mercy.”

“If you see Chen Ping, kill him without exception.”

“His head is worth a divine artifact.”

“Yes!” The divine cultivators in the hall responded in unison.

The Judgment Venerable closed his eyes and leaned back on his throne.

“Ying Wuji… do you think I can’t do anything to you just because you used someone else to kill you?” he murmured. “After dealing with Chen Ping, you’ll be next.”

The Judgment Hall’s decree spread throughout the entire Fifteen Heavens that very day.

In the Loose Cultivator Alliance, Feng Qingzi remained silent for a long time after receiving the news.

Then, he burned the contents of the decree and said to his disciples, “We know nothing about Chen Ping’s affairs. No one has asked us.”

Wolf Fang of the Beast Clan’s Sky Wolf Tribe, upon receiving the news, sneered, “What is the Judgment Hall? It dares to interfere in the affairs of my Sky Wolf Tribe?”

He tore the decree to shreds.

Shadow Wuji of the Demon Clan’s Shadow Hall, upon receiving the news, simply smiled.

He said to Shadow Killer, “The Judgment Venerable is anxious. When he’s anxious, he makes mistakes.”

The smaller forces, however, were caught in a dilemma.

They dared not offend the Judgment Hall, nor did they dare offend Chen Ping, the monster who had killed a seventh-grade True Immortal in one move.

For a moment, the undercurrents of the Fifteenth Heaven surged, more intense than the flames of the Heavenly Fire Pit.

In the council hall of the Youyue Kingdom,

Yun Quan’s expression was even more grave than before.

He placed the Judgment Hall’s decree on the table and looked at Chen Ping.

“Mr. Chen, the Judgment Hall has issued a kill order against you. Moreover, they have warned all forces not to cooperate with you.”

Chen Ping picked up the decree, glanced at it, and remained silent.

“The Sirius Tribe…”

Yun Quan hesitated for a moment, “Although they haven’t outwardly ignored the Judgment Hall’s decree, the Soul-Guiding Flame is their most precious treasure. In this situation, they might not be willing to lend it.”

Chen Ping placed the decree back on the table and stood up.

“I’ll go check on them.”

Yun Xi walked over and tugged at his sleeve, “Your injuries haven’t fully healed yet.”

Chen Ping smiled, “I’m almost healed. Besides, this isn’t a fight, it’s a negotiation. There won’t be any danger.”

Yun Xi bit her lip, not letting go.

“You always say that.”

Chen Ping looked into her eyes and said earnestly, “I promise you, I’ll definitely come back.”

Yun Xi was silent for a moment, then finally let go.

“Then be careful.”

Chen Ping nodded, turned, and walked out of the council hall.

Jiang Xuelan followed behind him.

The two transformed into two streaks of light and flew towards the Sirius Tribe of the Beast Clan. The Sirius Tribe is located in the northern part of the Netherworld Mountains, on a vast, desolate plain.

There are no city walls, no palaces, only countless tents and houses built of animal hides, scattered across the wasteland like a cluster of white mushrooms.

The beastmen dislike extravagance; their architecture is simple and practical.

But simplicity does not equate to weakness. The Sirius Tribe has stood for tens of thousands of years in the Fifteenth Heaven not because of city walls, but because of its strength.

Chen Ping and Jiang Xuelan landed in front of the Sirius Tribe’s camp.

Several beastmen warriors approached, bone axes and spears in hand, watching them warily.

“Who goes there?”

“Chen Ping. I’ve come to see your leader.”

The beastmen warriors’ expressions changed simultaneously.

The name Chen Ping had been spreading like wildfire throughout the Fifteenth Heaven for the past two days.

His feats—severing Jin Huan with a single punch in the Heavenly Fire Pit and killing Lei Zhentian with a single move on Heavenly Thunder Mountain—had already reached the Sirius Tribe.

“You…you wait a moment.” A beastman turned and ran into the camp.

A moment later, a burly beastman emerged from the camp.

He wore a wolf-skin cloak and had three bloody scars on his face; he was Wolf Fang, a renowned warrior of the Sky Wolf Tribe.

“Fellow Daoist Chen Ping!” Wolf Fang strode over, clasping his hands in a salute. “Long time no see! The chief heard you were here and specially sent me to fetch you.”

Chen Ping returned the salute: “Thank you for your trouble.”

Wolf Fang led Chen Ping and Jiang Xuelan through the camp, heading towards the largest tent in the center.

Along the way, the beastmen warriors stopped, looking at Chen Ping with complex emotions—awe, curiosity, and a hint of eager anticipation.

“Fellow Daoist Chen Ping, you killed Lei Zhentian?” Wolf Fang suddenly asked.

“Yes.”

Wolf Fang’s eyes lit up: “Good! That old bastard, I’ve had my eye on him for a long time! Relying on the Judgment Venerable’s backing, he swaggered around on Sky Wolf Tribe territory. If the chief hadn’t stopped me, I would have fought him long ago!”

Chen Ping smiled but remained silent.

With Wolf Fang’s strength, Lei Zhentian would probably have killed him in a single move.

The central tent was large enough to hold a hundred people.

The tent flap was made of animal hide, embroidered with a huge golden wolf’s head—the totem of the Heavenly Wolf Tribe.

Wolf Fang lifted the flap: “Fellow Daoist Chen Ping, please.”

Chen Ping entered the tent.

The tent was simply furnished. A thick animal hide carpet covered the floor, and in the center sat a huge brazier, its flames roaring.

Behind the brazier sat an old man.

His hair was white, his face aged, but his physique remained robust.

His eyes were dark brown, his pupils seemingly burning with fire.

A faint aura of bloodline power swirled around him; though restrained, it still exerted a powerful pressure.

His cultivation was at the eighth rank of the True Immortal Realm.

The Heavenly Wolf Tribe leader—Wolf Hao.

Chen Ping walked to the brazier, stopped, and clasped his hands in a salute.

“Leader Wolf Hao, I’ve long admired you.”

Wolf Hao looked at him, remaining silent for a moment.

Then, he smiled.

The smile was hearty, like a wind across the wasteland.

“Chen Ping, you’re younger than I expected.”

He stood up, walked to Chen Ping, and sized him up.

“Peak of the eighth rank of the Upper Immortal Realm, and you killed Lei Zhentian, a seventh-rank True Immortal Realm cultivator, in one move. Good lad, you’ve got skill.”

Chen Ping smiled: “Just lucky.”

Lang Hao laughed loudly: “Lucky? Lei Zhentian cultivated thunder techniques for thousands of years, and you think luck alone is enough to kill him? Don’t be modest.”

He turned and walked back to his seat, gesturing for Chen Ping to sit down.

“Speak, what brings you here?”

Chen Ping didn’t sit.

He stood there, looking at Lang Hao, “I’ve come to retrieve the Soul-Guiding Fire.”

The tent fell silent.

Lang Ya’s expression changed.

Lang Hao’s smile froze.

“The Soul-Guiding Fire is the most precious treasure of my Heavenly Wolf Tribe.” Lang Hao’s voice was deep, “You think you can just take it like that?”

Chen Ping looked at him, his voice calm.

“I know. That’s why I’m willing to exchange something for it.”

“What thing?”

“What do you want?”

Lang Hao was silent for a moment, then sighed.

“Chen Ping, it’s not that I don’t want to give it to you. The Soul-Guiding Flame… can’t be used now.”

Chen Ping’s brows furrowed slightly. “Why?”

Lang Hao stood up, walked to the back of the tent, and lifted a curtain.

“Come with me.”

Behind the curtain was a small tent, much smaller than the main tent, but more exquisitely furnished.

In the center of the tent was a stone bed, and on the stone bed lay an old man.

The old man was even older than Lang Hao, his hair completely white, his face covered with wrinkles, like a crumpled piece of paper.

His eyes were closed, and his breathing was so weak it was almost imperceptible.

A faint golden flame swirled around him—the Soul-Guiding Flame.

The flame was small, only the size of a fist, hovering above the old man’s chest, slowly rotating.

Its color was golden, but not a dazzling golden, but a warm, soft golden, like the afterglow of the setting sun.

“This is my father,”

Lang Hao’s voice was low, tinged with a sob. “The previous leader of the Tianlang tribe. Three hundred years ago, he was severely injured in a battle against the Divine Clan’s Judgment Hall, his soul damaged, and he has been unconscious ever since. The Soul-Guiding Fire can nourish the soul; for three hundred years, it has kept my father alive.”

He looked at Chen Ping, his eyes full of pleading.

“Chen Ping, if I take the Soul-Guiding Fire, my father will immediately be annihilated. It’s not that I don’t want to give it to you, it’s… I can’t give it to you.”

Chen Ping was silent for a moment, then walked to the stone bed and looked down at the old man.

He could feel that the old man’s soul was indeed very weak, so weak that it could dissipate at any moment.

The golden light of the Soul-Guiding Fire enveloped his soul, like a thin protective film, fixing his soul within his body.

“Is there any other way?” Chen Ping asked.

Lang Hao’s eyes lit up.

“Yes. Ancient texts record a kind of immortal herb called ‘Soul Gathering Grass,’ which can be refined into ‘Soul Gathering Pill.’ If my father could take the Soul Gathering Pill, his soul would be repaired, and he would no longer need the nourishment of the Soul-Guiding Fire.”

“Where is the Soul Gathering Grass?” Chen Ping asked.

Lang Hao’s expression became serious.

“On the territory of the Divine Clan’s Judgment Hall. There is a canyon called Soul Abyss, which is full of various spiritual herbs.

The Soul Gathering Grass grows in the deepest part of Soul Abyss. It is heavily guarded by the Divine Clan, and cultivators below the fourth rank of True Immortal cannot enter.

Even if they do enter, it is very difficult to collect the Soul Gathering Grass, as there are restrictions set up by the Divine Clan and guardian spirit beasts.”

“Moreover…” He paused, “Even if we collect the Soul Gathering Grass, no one in our Heavenly Wolf Tribe can refine the Soul Gathering Pill. Refining pills requires extremely high skill, and we beast races… are not good at this.”

Chen Ping was silent for a moment.

“I’ll go gather it.”

Lang Hao was taken aback: “What?”

“I’ll go gather Soul-Gathering Grass,” Chen Ping said, “and then refine it into Soul-Gathering Pills. I can refine pills.”

Chen Ping possessed the Shennong Cauldron, which could be used to refine pills, and besides, Chen Ping’s pill-refining skills were quite high.

Lang Hao’s eyes widened: “Chen Ping, that’s the territory of the Divine Clan’s Judgment Hall! You killed Lei Zhentian, and the Judgment Hall would love to tear you to pieces. If you go to their territory now, aren’t you just walking into a trap?”

Chen Ping smiled: “That’s precisely why they didn’t expect me to go.”

He turned to look at the old man on the stone bed.

“The Soul-Guiding Fire is related to the life and death of tens of thousands of ghost clan souls. I can’t not go just because I’m afraid of death.”

Lang Hao looked at him and remained silent for a long time.

Then, he bowed deeply.

“Chen Ping, if you can revive my father, I will personally hand over the Soul-Guiding Flame to you. Not only that, the Heavenly Wolf Clan owes you a life. From now on, your affairs are the affairs of the Heavenly Wolf Clan.”

Chen Ping helped him up: “No need for formalities. Tell me the location of the Soul Abyss.”

Lang Hao nodded and told Chen Ping the location of the Soul Abyss!
The Soul Abyss is located southeast of the Netherworld Mountains, within the sphere of influence of the Divine Clan’s Judgment Hall.

It is a long, narrow canyon with towering cliffs on both sides, its bottom shrouded in thick fog year-round, preventing sunlight from penetrating.

It is a treasure trove of spiritual herbs, a rare gem among the fifteen heavens of the Celestial Realm.

The Divine Clan’s Judgment Hall has heavily fortified this area, effectively surrounding the Soul Abyss; only core members of the Judgment Hall are allowed entry.

Chen Ping and Jiang Xuelan landed a hundred miles away from the Soul Abyss.

“Wait for me here,” Chen Ping said.

Jiang Xuelan frowned: “You want me to wait alone again?”

“The Soul Abyss has divine restrictions. Your Ice God Power is too conspicuous and easily detected. My Chaos Power can conceal my aura, making it ideal for this kind of thing.”

Jiang Xuelan was silent for a moment, then nodded.

“Be careful,”

Chen Ping smiled, turning and flying towards the Soul Abyss.

Two teams of divine cultivators guarded the entrance to the Soul Abyss, their cultivation levels ranging from the second to third rank of True Immortal.

They stood ramrod straight, clad in golden armor and wielding spears.

A golden light barrier stood at the entrance, a sacred barrier of the Judgment Hall, which would trigger an alarm for any unauthorized entry.

Chen Ping did not enter through the entrance.

He circled around to the other side of the canyon and climbed down the cliff.

The cliff here was steep and precipitous, covered with moss and vines, making it slippery and difficult to traverse.

But Chen Ping’s chaotic power flowed across his body, completely concealing his aura.

Like a gecko, he silently slid down the cliff face.

The fog thickened, and visibility decreased.

Chen Ping extended his divine sense, perceiving everything around him.

He could sense that numerous restrictions were set up in the canyon—some offensive, some trapping, and some alarming.

Each restriction was enough to cause a True Immortal cultivator considerable suffering.

But Chen Ping’s chaotic power countered all forces.

He concentrated his chaotic power at his fingertips, gently touching the edges of the restrictions, dismantling them bit by bit.

Without sound or light, the restrictions crumbled silently before him like sandcastles.

The first layer of restrictions was an alarm barrier.

Once triggered, all the guards of the Soul Abyss would know of an intrusion.

Chen Ping’s chaotic power acted like an invisible pair of scissors, severing the spiritual threads of the restrictions one by one.

The light of the restrictions flickered a few times, then dimmed, completely failing.

The second layer of restrictions was a trapping barrier.

Once triggered, the trapped person would be confined by a golden light prison, unable to move an inch.

Chen Ping did not trigger it, but instead used his chaotic power to open a small opening in the restrictions, and like threading a needle, silently slipped through.

The third layer, the fourth layer, the fifth layer…

It took him about an hour to finally pass through all the restrictions and reach the bottom of the valley.

The thick fog at the bottom of the valley was actually thinner than above.

He could see that the ground was covered with various spiritual herbs: red Crimson Flame Grass, blue Ice Heart Lotus, purple Purple Cloud Fungus, and golden Golden Dragon Beard, all emitting a faint glow in the thick fog.

Every spiritual herb was priceless; even a single one could fetch an astronomical price outside.

But Chen Ping ignored the ordinary spiritual herbs.

He headed straight for the deepest part of the valley.

The Soul-Gathering Grass grew at the very bottom of the Soul Abyss, near a massive rock wall.

It was quite unique, entirely silvery-white, with slender leaves resembling tiny silver swords, their blades covered in fine lines like veins or meridians.

There were seven leaves in total, arranged in a spiral, extending from the root to the tip.

At the tip bloomed a small flower, pale blue in color, with petals as thin as cicada wings and a golden stamen that emitted a faint, eerie glow.

The glow flickered, as if it were breathing.

Chen Ping crouched down to observe it closely.

The roots of the Soul-Gathering Grass were embedded in a crack in the rock wall, from which seeped a silvery-white liquid—the Soul Abyss’s unique “Soul Liquid,” the nutrients the Soul-Gathering Grass needed to grow.

Soul Liquid was extremely precious, a single drop worth tens of thousands of immortal stones, but Chen Ping didn’t care about that now.

He reached out to collect it.

Just then, a terrifying aura surged forth from behind the rock wall.

It was like a mountain pressing down, like the gaze of an abyss.

Chen Ping’s pupils contracted sharply, his chaotic power automatically activated, purple light flowing across his body, isolating him from the aura.

A gigantic spirit beast emerged from behind the rock wall.

Its body was the size of a small mountain, covered entirely in black scales, each scale the size of a palm, its edges sharp as knives, reflecting a cold light in the dark valley.

It had two curved horns on its head, the tips sharp as needles, still bearing traces of dried blood.

Its eyes were blood-red, with vertical pupils, like those of a snake or a dragon.

Its limbs were as thick as pillars, its claws bearing five sharp, blade-like nails, each a foot long, enough to tear through the protective spiritual power of a True Immortal Realm expert.

Its cultivation was at the sixth rank of the True Immortal Realm.

The guardian spirit beast of the Soul Abyss, the Black-Scaled Beast.

It looked down at Chen Ping, its blood-red eyes devoid of emotion, filled only with pure bloodlust.

Two plumes of white steam billowed from its nostrils, carrying a pungent, bloody stench.

It opened its maw, revealing a dense array of sharp teeth, each like a dagger.

Then, it unleashed a deafening roar.

The roar was like a thunderclap, shaking the entire canyon.

Rock fragments were shaken from the cliffs, the thick fog was torn apart by the sound waves, and the spiritual herbs on the ground were blown about wildly.

The roar contained a divine soul attack, transforming into invisible ripples that surged towards Chen Ping’s sea of ​​consciousness.

Wherever the ripples passed, the air distorted, even light was refracted.

Within Chen Ping’s sea of ​​consciousness, the Great Luo Golden Scripture trembled slightly.

Golden light surged forth from the Great Luo Golden Scripture, sweeping across the entire sea of ​​consciousness like a tidal wave.

The invisible divine soul ripples collided with the golden light, evaporating and dissipating instantly, like ice and snow meeting the blazing sun.

Chen Ping didn’t even blink.

A flicker of unease flashed in the black-scaled beast’s eyes.

It sensed something terrifying within this human’s consciousness.

Its soul attack was enough to instantly render a fifth-grade True Immortal unconscious, yet this human hadn’t even flinched.

But it didn’t retreat.

It was the guardian of the Soul Abyss, its mission to kill all intruders.

For thousands of years, it had slain countless cultivators who had ventured into the Soul Abyss—humans, demons, beastmen, and monsters.

No one had ever escaped its claws alive.

It pounced on Chen Ping,

its speed as swift as lightning.

Though its body was enormous, its movements were terrifyingly agile.

In a single stride, it covered ten feet and arrived before Chen Ping.

Its right claw was raised high, its five sharp, blade-like toenails slicing through the darkness with a chilling light, before slamming down towards Chen Ping’s head.

The force of that claw strike was enough to shatter a small mountain.Chen Ping didn’t dodge.

He raised his right hand, a ball of chaotic fire condensing in his palm.

Purple light intertwined with golden flames, dazzlingly bright in the dark valley.

The moment the chaotic fire appeared, the surrounding fog began to fluctuate violently, as if it had encountered a natural enemy.

The fog sizzled under the burning chaotic fire, rapidly evaporating and dissipating.

A flicker of fear flashed in the black-scaled beast’s eyes.

It sensed that the flame could kill it.

For thousands of years, it had never felt fear.

It had killed experts at the fifth rank of True Immortal Realm, experts at the sixth rank of True Immortal Realm, and even fought against experts at the seventh rank of True Immortal Realm. Although it couldn’t win, it hadn’t been in mortal danger.

But now, it felt the threat of death.

But it was too late to retreat.

Its claws had already struck.

Chen Ping pushed out the chaotic fire in his hand.

The flames didn’t transform into fire snakes, but directly into a fire dragon.

The fire dragon was tens of meters long, its body a tapestry of purple and gold, its scales, horns, whiskers, and claws incredibly lifelike.

It opened its massive maw, letting out a silent roar, and charged towards the black-scaled beast. The fire

dragon’s claws clashed with the black-scaled beast’s.

There was no explosion, no loud bang.

The black-scaled beast’s claws were like paper before the chaotic fire.

Its five sharp toenails were instantly burned to ashes, followed by its claws, forearms, and shoulders.

The fire dragon burrowed into its body, rampaging through its flesh and blood.

Black scales peeled off piece by piece, each piece burning in the air and turning to ash.

Flesh and blood charred in the flames, bones crackling and popping like firecrackers.

The black-scaled beast’s blood wasn’t red, but black, like ink.

The black blood evaporated instantly in the chaotic fire, filling the air with a pungent, acrid smell.

The black-scaled beast let out a mournful cry.

The howl was filled with pain, fear, and despair.

Its body began to crumble, starting with its right claw, cracks spreading throughout its entire body.

Purple flames burned within each crack, incinerating its flesh inch by inch.

It tried to escape, but its body was no longer under its control.

Its limbs were burned by the chaotic fire, its torso was pierced by the chaotic fire, and its head was swallowed by the chaotic fire.

In less than three breaths, this guardian spirit beast of the sixth rank of True Immortal Realm had turned into a pile of ashes.

The ashes fell to the ground, mingling with the scorched earth, indistinguishable from each other.

Chen Ping withdrew the flames, squatted down, and carefully picked the Soul Gathering Grass.

He dared not use force, afraid of damaging the roots.

He enveloped his fingers with chaotic power, gently pinched the roots, and slowly pulled upwards.

The roots of the Soul Gathering Grass were very deep, a foot long, with dense, intricate rootlets like a ball of silvery-white threads.

He uprooted the entire grass and stored it in his storage ring.

Then, he stood up, preparing to leave.

Just then, he heard footsteps.

“Someone has broken into the Soul Abyss!”

“Quick! Notify the elders!”

“Seal the exit! Don’t let him escape!”

Chen Ping looked up and saw dozens of golden points of light appear above the canyon.

Those were the holy light of the divine race cultivators, particularly dazzling in the thick fog.

They discovered the barrier had been broken and followed the trail to the bottom of the valley.

Chen Ping didn’t panic.

He stood at the bottom of the valley, waiting for those people to come down.

The first group to rush down were ten divine race cultivators at the second level of the True Immortal Realm.

They wore golden armor and held long swords. Seeing Chen Ping, they charged forward without saying a word.

“Kill!”

The ten people attacked simultaneously, their golden holy light transforming into ten sword beams, slashing towards Chen Ping.

Chen Ping raised his right hand and struck out with his palm.

Purple chaotic power transformed into a pillar of light, engulfing all ten sword beams.

The pillar of light continued forward, colliding with the ten divine race cultivators.

Their bodies were sent flying as if struck by a mountain, crashing into the rock face, blood gushing from their mouths.

Two fainted instantly, while the remaining eight struggled to their feet, their eyes filled with terror.

The second wave of attackers consisted of twenty True Immortal Realm, third-grade Divine Race cultivators.

They were stronger and more coordinated than the first wave.

Instead of charging directly at him, they split into four groups, attacking simultaneously from four directions.

Golden holy light transformed into countless blades of light, raining down on Chen Ping like a storm.

Chen Ping raised his hands, Chaos Fire condensing in his palms.

He pushed the flames outward, and a purple fire ring spread outward from him.

Wherever the fire ring passed, the golden blades of light evaporated instantly, like snow meeting the blazing sun.

The fire ring continued forward, striking the twenty Divine Race cultivators.

“Ah—”

Screams echoed one after another.

Some were severed at the waist by the fire ring, their upper and lower bodies separated, the wounds charred black by the flames, yet not a drop of blood flowed.

Some were struck in the chest by rings of fire, leaving fist-sized holes with burning edges.

Others had their arms instantly reduced to ashes by the fiery rings.

Of the twenty people, twelve were dead and eight were seriously injured.

The eight seriously injured lay on the ground, howling and writhing, their wounds scorched by the chaotic fire, unable to heal, the pain like a persistent, incurable affliction.

The third group to rush down were five True Immortal Realm, fourth-grade Divine Race cultivators.

They were core members of the Judgment Hall, each wearing a more magnificent golden robe than ordinary cultivators, embroidered with the Judgment Hall’s emblem—a golden scale symbolizing “justice.”

Their faces paled at the sight of the carnage at the bottom of the valley.

“Chen Ping!” the leader recognized him. “You’re Chen Ping!”

Chen Ping remained silent.

“You killed Vice Hall Master Lei Zhentian, and you still dare to come to the Soul Abyss?” The man’s voice trembled. “You…aren’t you afraid of the Hall Master…”

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Ping moved.

He took a step forward and appeared in front of the man.

Before the man could react, Chen Ping’s palm was already pressed against his chest.

Chaotic fire surged from his palm, burning a large hole through his chest.

The man looked down at the hole in his chest, his eyes filled with disbelief, and then slowly collapsed.

The remaining four people turned and ran.

Chen Ping did not chase. He raised his right hand, and four streams of chaotic fire condensed in his palm, transforming into four fire spears, which shot towards the four men.

The fire spears were as fast as lightning, instantly catching up with the four men, entering from their backs and exiting from their chests.

The four men fell simultaneously.

The valley floor fell silent.

The air was filled with the stench of burning and blood.

The ground was stained red with blood, and the scorched earth turned dark red.

Chen Ping stood among the corpses, not a drop of blood staining his blue robe.

His face was calm, his eyes clear, as if he had just killed not dozens of people, but a swarm of ants.

He raised his head and looked up at the canyon.

There were still more divine cultivators rushing over there.

Countless golden specks of light, at least a hundred.

Their holy light dyed the entire sky gold, as if it were daytime.

Chen Ping did not retreat.

He stood there, waiting for them to come down.

Hundreds of divine cultivators rushed down to the bottom of the valley. Among them were ordinary cultivators at the second level of the True Immortal Realm, squad leaders at the third level, deputy elders at the fourth level, and even two elders at the fifth level.

They surrounded Chen Ping, and golden holy light surged towards him like a tide.

“Chen Ping! Surrender! The Palace Master might spare your life!” shouted an elder at the fifth level of the True Immortal Realm.

Chen Ping glanced at him.

Then, he smiled.

The smile was faint, almost imperceptible.

But at that moment, everyone felt a chill, a chill that shot from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads.

“Spare my life?” Chen Ping’s voice was calm. “You dare to?”

He moved.

This time, he didn’t stand still and wait for them to rush at him.

He charged into the crowd.

Chaotic fire burned around him, purple light intertwined with golden flames, devouring all the surrounding holy light.

He was like a purple meteor, crashing through a golden sea.

With one punch, a second-grade True Immortal cultivator was blasted away, his chest caved in, blood gushing from his mouth, already lifeless when he landed.

With one palm, a third-grade True Immortal squad leader had his protective holy light shattered, his body exploding in mid-air, turning into a cloud of blood mist.

With one finger, a beam of chaotic fire pierced the head of a fourth-grade True Immortal elder; his eyes widened in disbelief until his death.

With one sword—he didn’t use a sword, his Dragon-Slaying Sword was still healing from injury.

But his finger was the sword; the chaotic fire condensed into a sword beam, and wherever it passed, the divine cultivators fell like wheat being harvested.

One, two, three… ten, twenty, thirty…

in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, more than half of the hundreds of divine cultivators had fallen.

The remaining ones finally collapsed.

“Run! Run!”

“He’s not human! He’s a demon!”

“Help! Help!”

They turned and ran, scrambling to escape towards the top of the canyon.

Some fell to the ground, trampled by those behind them, letting out a scream before falling silent.

Others were pushed behind their companions as shields, desperately climbing upwards.

Chen Ping didn’t chase after them.

He stood amidst the corpses, watching the fleeing figures in a sorry state, his eyes showing no pity, no pleasure, only a calm indifference.

He turned and walked towards the edge of the canyon.

News of the Soul Abyss reached the Judgment Hall that very day.

The Judgment Venerable sat on his throne, listening to his subordinates’ reports, his face growing increasingly grim.

“What did you say? Chen Ping broke into the Soul Abyss? Killed the guardian spirit beast? Killed over a hundred of our cultivators?”

“Yes…yes, Hall Master.” The cultivator kneeling on the ground trembled, his forehead pressed to the ground, not daring to raise his head.

“Why did he go to the Soul Abyss?”

“He…he took the Soul Gathering Grass.”

The Judgment Venerable’s eyes narrowed.

Soul Gathering Grass.

That was the main ingredient for refining the Soul Gathering Pill.

The old leader of the Heavenly Wolf Tribe had been in a coma for three hundred years, surviving only on the Soul-Guiding Fire.

Chen Ping took the Soul-Gathering Grass, refined it into the Soul-Gathering Pill, revived the old leader, and then took the Soul-Guiding Flame.

He instantly understood everything.

“What a Chen Ping.” His voice was calm, so calm it sent chills down one’s spine. “What a Ying Wuji. What a Lang Hao.”

He stood up and stepped down from the throne.

His golden robe trailed on the ground, making a rustling sound.

He walked to the kneeling cultivator and looked down at him.

“Where are the restrictions of the Soul Abyss? Those restrictions are ancient inheritances, even a True Immortal Realm Seventh Grade expert can’t get through them. How did he, a Upper Immortal Realm Eighth Grade Peak, manage to get through them?”

“This subordinate… this subordinate doesn’t know.”

The Judgment Venerable was silent for a moment.

“The power of chaos.” He murmured, “His power of chaos can restrain all power.”

He turned around and walked back to the throne.

“Pass down the order. From today onwards, all cultivators patrolling outside are forbidden to engage Chen Ping upon sight; report immediately. I need to keep track of his movements at all times.”

“Yes!”

“Also, notify the Shadow Palace and the Heavenly Wolf Tribe. Tell Ying Wuji and Lang Hao that I’ve taken note of their cooperation with Chen Ping. I’ll settle accounts with them after we deal with Chen Ping.”

“Yes!”

The Judgment Venerable closed his eyes and leaned back on his throne.

His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, producing a rhythmic sound.

The sound echoed in the empty hall like the tolling of a death knell.

“Chen Ping… you’ve caused me to lose a deputy palace master, a spirit beast from the Soul Abyss, over a hundred cultivators, and a Soul Gathering Grass.” His voice was soft, as if he were talking to himself, “You will pay the price.”

…

When Chen Ping returned to Youyue Kingdom, it was already dark.

Yun Quan and Yun Xi were waiting at the city gate, and they both breathed a sigh of relief when they saw him return.

“Mr. Chen, did you get it?” Yun Quan asked.

Chen Ping took out the Soul Gathering Grass from his storage ring and handed it to him.

Then he repeated Lang Hao’s request.

Yun Quan took the Soul Gathering Grass, his hands trembling.

The silvery-white grass trembled slightly in his palm, and the pale blue flowers swayed gently in the night breeze, emitting a faint glow.

“This…this is the Soul Gathering Grass?”

Chen Ping nodded.

“But…” Yun Quan’s expression became serious again, “Who will refine the pill? The Soul Gathering Pill is a sixth-grade pill, which requires a master alchemist to refine. Our Youyue Kingdom…has no such person.”

Chen Ping was silent for a moment.

“I will.”

Everyone looked at him.

“You can refine pills?” Yun Xi’s eyes widened.

“A little.” Chen Ping said, “I learned it when I was in the Celestial Realm. Although I haven’t practiced for a long time, I should still remember it.”

What he didn’t say was that he not only knew alchemy, but he also had an ancient divine cauldron in his possession—the Shennong Cauldron.

The Shennong Cauldron was not large, and its entire body was bronze, covered with ancient runes.

The runes weren’t any known script, but a far more ancient and primitive language—ancient divine script.

Legend has it that the Shennong Cauldron could refine all things under heaven, not only elixirs, but also weapons, medicines, and even souls.

Yun Quan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

He turned and walked into the council hall, placing the Soul-Gathering Grass on the table.

“Mr. Chen, what auxiliary materials do you need? I’ll go prepare them.”

Chen Ping thought for a moment and recited a list of spiritual herbs: “Three Crimson Flame Grasses, two Ice Heart Lotuses, one Purple Cloud Mushroom, one Golden Dragon Beard, and one drop of Ten-Thousand-Year Spiritual Milk.”

Yun Quan noted them down and went to prepare them.

Chen Ping found a corner in the council hall and sat down cross-legged.

He took out a pill furnace from his storage ring and placed it in front of him.

The Shennong Cauldron.

Chen Ping looked at the cauldron, a complex emotion welling up in his heart.

This cauldron had been with him for many years, from the mortal realm to the celestial realm, from the celestial realm to the celestial realm, and from the celestial realm to the celestial realm.

He had always carried it with him, yet he had never used it in the celestial realm.

He placed the Shennong Cauldron in front of him and put the Soul Gathering Grass and auxiliary materials into the furnace one by one.